are allocating tremendous resources to
strengthen the alignment between themselves and their physicians through physician employment, co-management companies, physician hospital organizations,
and other models. But entering an integrated arrangement alone does not guarantee successful alignment. Meaningful
clinical integration requires a significant
commitment on the part of all parties,
building of trust, communication, a unified purpose, and other key factors.

One may ask how an individual radiologist, radiology physician practice, or
other medical imaging provider should
respond, if at all, to the Medicare Hospital Value-Based Purchasing Program
considering that it targets hospitals. The
answer is simple: they need to respond
with action. Knowing how to take action
is more difficult. First, radiologists and
other medical imaging providers should
continue and bolster efforts to ensure
that patients are receiving the highest
quality of care practicable. Among other
areas, imaging facilities should focus on
accurateness, appropriateness of testing,
patient safety, and turnaround times.
Second, imaging professionals should
keep their eyes and ears open and play
an active role in the changes that are
occurring within their hospitals and
their healthcare communities more generally. They need to ensure their voices
are heard and their value to the healthcare delivery system is acknowledged.
Maintaining the status quo is simply not
an option.

Kathryn Hickner-Cruz, Esq is a partner of The Health
Law Partners, PC, specializing in healthcare
transactional matters and compliance with federal
and state healthcare regulations. Ms. Hickner-Cruz
has expertise in federal and state self-referral laws
(including without limitation Stark), federal and state
anti-kickback laws, HIPAA and state privacy laws, and
federal tax exempt laws. She is a member of the State
Bars of New York and Michigan, the American Health
Lawyer’s Association, and the American Bar
Association. Ms. Hickner-Cruz can be contacted at
khicknercruz@thehlp.com.

Adrienne Dresevic, Esq is a founding shareholder of
The Health Law Partners, PC. She graduated Magna
Cum Laude from Wayne State University Law School.
Ms. Dresevic practices in all areas of healthcare law
and devotes a substantial portion of her practice to
providing clients with counsel and analysis regarding
compliance and Stark and fraud and abuse. Ms.
Dresevic is a member of the American Health Lawyers
Association, American Bar Association, State Bar of
Michigan, and State Bar of New York. She can be
contacetd at adresevic@thehlp.com.